https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:56:55 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why/page/2#post-1293278 Wed, 02 Jul 2014 19:15:59 +0000 Suz 1293278@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie, I think you look great in black and white high contrast. It works for you in part because of your verve and energy, and also because you define your brows, add specs, etc. -- in short, what Aziriphale said. We can adjust our own personal level of contrast to some degree. And our personality and body type and energy play a huge role.&nbsp;</p> <p>Thought I also agree with Marley that just because a woman is wearing pastels doesn't mean she is unassertive or non dramatic. Marley, in your case, your body type, energy, and modern hair style contribute to an energetic effect even if you are wearing low contrast.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why/page/2#post-1293135 Wed, 02 Jul 2014 15:24:58 +0000 Aziraphale 1293135@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like both, depending on my mood. High-contrast outfits, like bold black-and-white stripes,&nbsp;feel more dramatic. I love that.&nbsp;I go for high-contrast lipstick a lot, too. But I also appreciate the beauty of a neutral, low-contrast outfit -- all soft greys, for example -- and many days, that's what I feel like wearing.&nbsp;</p> <p>I'm with Angie in that I don't necessarily think low-contrast people need to wear low-contrast outfits. I've seen plenty of pale, fair-haired women who look great in contrasty looks. My own colouring is somewhere in between&nbsp;-- I have medium brown hair and fair skin, which is fairly high-contrast, but ALL of my body hair -- including lashes and eyebrows -- is blond. I'm not sure why my brows and lashes&nbsp;are significantly lighter than my natural hair colour, as this doesn't seem to be the norm, but oh well. These things are easily fixed with a swipe of mascara and a brow pencil. My eyes are ice green, and the second you put black mascara around them, my natural colouring looks more dramatic. Dark lipstick adds to the effect. So with a small amount of makeup,&nbsp;I feel I have a lot of influence over my own level of contrast before I even consider the contrast level of an outfit. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why/page/2#post-1292940 Wed, 02 Jul 2014 04:56:52 +0000 Marley 1292940@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like the looks of both - but for me personally, I am a low-contrast girl when it comes to my own outfits. I believe that a lot of that has to do with my hair, eye, and skin color all being low contrast - as well as the fact that my facial features are soft and round. Low contrast looks best on me. </p> <p>For me, it does not have anything to do with my mood or personality. I can be decked out in pastel pink and white and still be assertive, outgoing, loud, and/or dramatic! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why/page/2#post-1292890 Wed, 02 Jul 2014 02:40:17 +0000 SarahTheWhite 1292890@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am totally on board with Angie's answer. It can be so complicated sometimes as to why I pick what I like, but the bottom line is that it works for me somehow. In general I do prefer the clothing items to be low contrast to each other (like Suz said, otherwise it feels like the clothes are wearing me) but I often like to wear solid colors such as navy and black that are high contrast against my skin and hair. My most common "uniform" tends to be mid range colors (dark enough not to wash me out, but light enough not to contrast sharply against my skin) with low contrast amongst the colors in the outfit, and almost always footwear that blends with my feet. But... Molds are made to be broken and I sometime so like to mix it up! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why/page/2#post-1292883 Wed, 02 Jul 2014 02:26:29 +0000 Angie 1292883@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think we are confusing two different things:&nbsp;</p> <p>1. High or low contrast between clothing items close to your face. Like wearing black over white.&nbsp;</p> <p>2. High or low contrast against your skin tone.&nbsp;</p> <p>Image consultants usually say&nbsp;that people with my complexion and hair colour –<i> low contrast </i>– should <b>not</b> wear high contrast next to their faces. So I shouldn't wear black and white on top.&nbsp;But I do, and enjoy the combination. &nbsp;I also wear black on its own - high contrast <i>on me</i>. I wear shades of white on their own&nbsp;- low contrast <i>on me</i>.&nbsp;</p> <p>Of course, high contrast can look overly harsh -&nbsp;and low contrast can look overly blah - which is why it's a point of discussion in the first place. You have to find those high and low contrast&nbsp;sweet spots. And on top of that -<b> it's all subjective anyway.</b> So go with what YOU think looks fab. I can think something looks overly harsh - whereas the wearer thinks otherwise. An image consultant will probably say I look awful in black and white - but I think otherwise. The wearer has to wear the outfit and feel fabulous. End of story. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why/page/2#post-1292788 Wed, 02 Jul 2014 00:53:53 +0000 Windchime 1292788@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm late to this thread but still wanted to respond to your very interesting question.<br /> Somewhat surprisingly to me, because I'm quite introverted, I tend to be a high-contrast dresser. I'm a winter and often pair a jewel tone with black or white. Today I wore a navy tunic shirt with white linen pants and navy shoes. I just looked over the outfit lists I've been keeping, and I almost always combine a darker color with a lighter one. Or I wear no-contrast, column of color outfits. But in keeping with my personality, I choose classic pieces which do not call attention to themselves. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why/page/2#post-1292608 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 20:50:29 +0000 Meow 1292608@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great thread.&nbsp; I read somewhere that the contrast level of your outfit is one if not THE most important aspect of dressing.&nbsp; There's so many things to think about it's a wonder I can get dressed in the morning!<br />Here's a great series of articles and videos from insideoutstyleblog on dressing for your personal contrast.<br /><a href="http://www.insideoutstyleblog.com/2011/09/how-to-figure-out-your-contrast.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.insideoutstyleblog......trast.html</a><br />and<br /><a href="http://www.insideoutstyleblog.com/2014/03/getting-your-value-contrast-levels-right.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.insideoutstyleblog......right.html</a><br />Several years ago I had my colors done and it was deteremined I am a "Soft Autumn" so have medium to low contrast.&nbsp; I also don't have an "out there" personality so prefer the lower contrast colthing.&nbsp; For me, I feel taller, thinner, more elegant and the clothes look more expensive - I hope anyway!&nbsp; </p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1292524 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 19:04:24 +0000 abc 1292524@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>In reading the responses it seems like there are several points of distinction when talking about contrast - personal features (hair color, skin tone, body shape), the contrast between the clothes themselves and finally contrast between features and clothing. Phew. Lots to think about. </p> <p>I don't think of myself as having high contrast in my features. I have medium blonde hair (helped with color in the form of hihhlights for several years now), blue eyes and fair skin. I am a size 12/14 but have been up to 16/18. I always felt I could carry off prints due to my size and I suppose also partly due to my personality. </p> <p>I tend to do high contrast in the clothing themselves. As in the pieces of clothing I put together as an outfit have a lot of contrast between them. </p> <p>I'm going to review the responses again and will check back later. </p> <p>I stand by my comment that YLF ladies are smart! </p> <p>Thanks for the replies. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1292511 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 18:48:50 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 1292511@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I prefer medium contrast on myself; high contrast overwhelms me. I also prefer soft-edged, diffuse prints to crisp-lined ones, for the same reason. I feel like the clothes are in the foreground, with me in the background, if there's too much contrast. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1292498 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 18:32:26 +0000 Janet 1292498@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like both -- it just depends on my mood. Especially if a silhouette feels "safe" to me, I'll often go with high-contrast pieces and not worry quite so much about whether that negates the "long and lean" effect. But if I'm experimenting with a new silhouette or a particularly eye-catching piece, I'll usually keep the overall outfit low-contrast.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1292494 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 18:23:05 +0000 L'Abeille 1292494@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hardly the expert here. But I think contrast refers to within the clothes (or within the person's individual coulouring, like dark hair/fair skin). As a general rule, people seem to look and feel better when the degree of contrast in their outfit matches their personal colouring--hence the comments like "the outfit is wearing me".</p> <p>I have loved high contrast looks on myself, before I even knew what or why, and that has been much reinforced by other people's comments (do they think I look well rested, or comment on how bad a night I must have had? The clothes or lipstick affect this more than the actual degree of restedness!)</p> <p>It's a bit more challenging now, as my hair and eyebrows start to fade. I've often read that at this stage, lower contrast and lighter colours become more flattering. In my case, I find they make me disappear. I now wear dark thick eyeglass frames not only out of preference but out of necessity (ie my face looks wrong with thin pale ones) so I am following a Linda Rodin aesthetic, with dark/red lipstick and dark glasses for the 2 contrast points of my facial features. Although my hair is not as silver as hers yet, she is my role model for getting away with it. And I still use high contrast in my outfits; the only change is, I can now bookend with pale shoes as well as dark ones. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1292476 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 18:10:55 +0000 Astrid 1292476@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rachylou, that's a very good question! I would say I look best in something that's lower contrast to "me", but I like medium contrast in my outfits. I feel a bit blah in very low contrast outfits and very high contrast looks overwhelm me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1292401 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 16:34:12 +0000 rachylou 1292401@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Is this a dumb question? But when we say "low contrast dressing" or "high contrast dressing" - are we talking about the contrast between you and the clothes or the clothes and the clothes?</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1292375 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 16:09:54 +0000 milehighstyle (Linda) 1292375@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think my coloring (dark hair and eyes, light but not super pale skin) suits high to medium contrast dressing and I dress that way most often. I don't mind low contrast when it's lighter colors - whiteout or all pastels.&nbsp; Don't like all dark on me.&nbsp; The Inside Out Style blog had some recent advice on how to wear a contrast level that doesn't suit you (Claire has it down - add in a midtone element for balance if high contrast is too much for you). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1292370 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 16:07:16 +0000 lyn* 1292370@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think I like high contrast - but not in terms of a colours sense, but more of a play on proportions.&nbsp;</p> <p>I like the high contrast between the ratio of skirt width and waist width, for example (fit and flare vs. a pencil or a fitted dress) - and I also like the high contrast of a boat neck with a longer hemline (midi); as well as longer sleeves (elbow or 3/4).</p> <p>I'm not sure about colours though; I think I'm all over the place. If I had to vote I'd say medium to low, though. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1292362 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 15:59:12 +0000 Gaylene 1292362@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Like Suz says, I think personality, mood, and body type play as important a role as coloring when choosing high vs. low contrast. Actually, I'll go even further and say personality, mood, and body type might be even more important because most of us can figure out high contrast and low contrast looks using colors that flatter us and, objectively, look good. The sticking point, though, is how a person feels in the outfit: Does my low contrast outfit make me feel washed out and drab or quietly feminine/sophisticated? Is my high contrast pairing making me feel energetic and alive or more like a flamboyant attention-seeker?</p> <p>I also think that Kibbe was right in saying that those of with more angular bodies are often drawn towards more dramatic elements in our outfits like high contrast, while those whose body shapes are softer and more delicate could feel overwhelmed by the drama and gravitate towards a low contrast, less flamboyant look. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1292340 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 15:26:28 +0000 Laurinda 1292340@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have low-contrast coloring. &nbsp;I like high-contrast clothes, but they look like <i>they</i> are wearing <i>me</i>! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1292286 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 14:37:00 +0000 Thistle 1292286@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I tend toward lower contrast dressing, although my eye truly enjoy higher contrast - just on others.</p> <p>I think this is partially because of my coloring. I have light skin and lightish hair, so it is pretty easy to be overwhelmed by high contrast. That, and colors that tend to be higher contrast (vivid brights, for example) look awful on me. Give me a pretty aqua or teal any day!</p> <p>I also think personality plays a part in it. If I had to use a word to describe myself, practical comes to mind. I always think of high contrast on more arty or flamboyant personalities. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1292233 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 12:45:15 +0000 Anonymous 1292233@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think I maybe prefer medium contrast? </p> <p>My coloring is fairly high contrast, with dark brown hair and relatively pale skin,&nbsp;but it's all sort of the <i>same</i> color, if that makes sense. My eyes are also dark brown and my skin tone is warm enough that it kind of reads as beige, so I feel like I can't stand up to quite as much drama as, say,&nbsp;a dark brunette with blue eyes and more pinkish skin.</p> <p>I do sometimes wear very high-contrast things, like black and white prints. But my preference for softer, drapier fabrics and curvy rather than angular prints softens the look even of those.</p> <p>Really low-contrast things, on the other hand, just make me feel like a blob.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1292212 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 12:05:24 +0000 Liz 1292212@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I prefer low contrast -- I think it has to do with my coloring, which is low contrast, and my personality, which is also low contrast (high desire for harmony with the people and settings around me).&nbsp;</p> <p>That said, low-contrast does not mean "quiet neutrals" to me.&nbsp;I'll happily wear orange and red together where I wouldn't wear black and red. Or apple green and blue, but not white and blue.</p> <p>Also, I tend to go more high-contrast in the summer -- probably in response to the light being stronger and the fact that I'm showing more skin and wearing less fabric, and high contrast can feel crisp and cool.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1292208 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 11:58:10 +0000 Anonymous 1292208@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am only comfortable in high contrast clothing. &nbsp;I am not sure why. &nbsp;It might be that I started out dressing this way and continued through life. &nbsp;Now it feels perfect to me. &nbsp;</p> <p>That said, I experimented with a long columns of black and white. &nbsp;The pictures I took told me that this look was flattering and I mean to try it again in the near future. &nbsp;However, on work days, I seem to gravitate to the tried and true formula again and again. &nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1292183 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:42:47 +0000 fuzzylogic 1292183@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>DianeG- agree! I have to have the right amount of internal fortitude to carry high contrast/brights well! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1292178 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 09:35:33 +0000 Anonymous 1292178@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Joining Fuzzy on the fence (yes, ouch! bring a cushion!). My colouring means I'm better in low contrast but occasionally I like to wear something like a bright emerald or a tomato red and white. How I'm feeling impacts my choices. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1292173 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 08:55:18 +0000 anniejane 1292173@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It simply depends on the color that suits me and my mood to wear. In&nbsp;summer, low contrast seems better than bright colors. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1292172 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 08:44:05 +0000 fuzzylogic 1292172@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>YLF ladies are so smart? Oh, stop.... Go on... Bwahaha!</p> <p>What do you have on offer for a fence-sitter, abc? I'm leaning towards California rolls , myself....!</p> <p>I think I prefer low contrast for elegant sophistication, in dark colours or light. </p> <p>That said, I do like black, white and a pop of colour......</p> <p>And when I play with bright colours and off/white (usually in summer) the brights are usually muted.</p> <p>Yep, totally sitting on the fence here..... Ouch! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1292162 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 08:21:27 +0000 Deborah 1292162@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think I like high contrast and drama for me:). Black is a neutral so I often think of it as low contrast, particularly in an all black outfit, but against my fair skin and blonde hair I think it becomes high contrast...is that correct? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1292119 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 05:43:57 +0000 Gigi 1292119@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love high-contrast outfits. They give me energy. If I wear an outfit that is low contrast, I feel like I'm dragging all day.</p> <p>I have high-contrast facial features too, by the way. Maybe my body feels like it is in harmony with the clothing or something? The low-contrast outfits feel way too subdued to me, like I'm melting into a heap of exhaustion. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1291954 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 02:47:49 +0000 Alana in Canada 1291954@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmmmm. I love high contrast--in decor--on me. But my colouring is not now,nor has ever been high contrast. Do I simply love what doesn't suit me, then? (Wouldn't be the first time, wink!)<br />ps: rhetorical question. Somthing for me to think about.&nbsp;I have no intention of hijaking this thread. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1291951 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 02:44:11 +0000 Aida 1291951@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Both, with a slight preference to low contrast these days though I bat for Team Dramatic. I have built in high contrast coloring (pale skin, dark hair), so no matter what I wear there is always at least a little high contrast in all of my looks. Sometimes that's enough drama for me, but on days where I'm in the mood for more then high contrast clothes it is </p> <p>EDIT: I suppose I should clarify that I am batting for both teams in terms of clothing contrast with <i>each other</i>, but that my own personal high-contrast coloring is always present.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/high-or-low-contrast-dressing-and-why#post-1291947 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 02:38:52 +0000 Peri 1291947@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Following Suz, I'm super pale and dark hair and I do prefer high contrast dressing. I hadn't thought of it in those terms though. </p> <p>For me, I feel like I am so pale I need to borrow color from my clothes...that's why I don't do great in most pastels. Low contrast with all pastels would be very washed out, low contrast with bright colors...like all brights from head to toe...would feel like too much for me, so that leaves high contrast.&nbsp;</p> <p>Unless I'm misunderstanding the basic concept. You mean contrast in clothes items within an outfit, right? Not contrast between your coloring and the clothes. I couldn't even get my thoughts together to answer on Claire's post so I hope I'm not misinterpreting this one! </p>